40 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
cies in hardiness and rapidity of growth. The attempts made to accli- 
matize them to English waters, so far as restricted areas are concerned, 
have proved successful ; and they seemed to become thoroughly natural- 
ized therein immediately on their introduction, proving thereby that the 
condition of the water, climate, and food are well adapted to their wants. 
* * * At Delaford Park the fish furnish signs of yielding their 
ova towards the middle of January. If so, the date of spawning would 
be about the same time as other species of trout ; and thus the fear of 
extinction through cannibalism, experienced in the United States, need 
not be entertained, as the fry would be able to protect themselves in the 
same way as their baby cousins. 
“ It is not surprising to find that the rainbow trout should show signs 
of generating so much earlier in this country than abroad, especially 
at Delaford, where the water is doubtless softer than that in California. 
Late spawners are generally those that inhabit waters of a low tempera- j 
ture, but if such fish are transferred to warmer climes they alter their 
nature accordingly. This is precisely the case tdth the rainbow trout, 
which have evidently altered their habits and adapted themselves to the 
altered conditions under which they are now placed. 
64 The facts already adduced regarding this fish can only be applied 
to them under a semi-artificial state, as hitherto they have to a great 
extent been confined in inclosed quarters. A few were turned into the 
river Colne, and were caught by me in the same locality a year after- 
wards. This experiment, I hope, will be extended shortly, if they can 
be raised in sufficiently large numbers to allow of its being done, which 
I have no doubt about, as the U. S. Fish Commission, through Professor 
Baird, is willing to forward further consignments of ova. These, in 
addition to the stock reproduced by the fish in the possession of the As- 
sociation, will enable us to plant quite a quantity in public waters. 
11 It is asserted that the rainbow trout is migratory in its habits. As 
far as I can see at present the reverse is the case. I believe it is not 
identical in this respect with the Salvelinus fontinalis , whose wander- 
ing propensities have earned it the rebuke of all men ; neither are its 
requirements the same, the location of the one being uncongenial to the 
other. Migratory or non-migratory, the rainbow trout would make its 
mark in inclosed waters or for ornamental purposes. Eegarded from a 
sporting point of view, it would prove an acquisition, as I have on many 
occasions observed it rising to a fly. I believe it is hot considered a 
game fish in its native waters, and here again it appears to have altered 
its nature. There is no doubt about it, that the gameness of fish is gov- 
erned by the condition of the water which they inhabit; therefore, 
from an angler’s point of view, the interchange of species with foreign 
countries is a great boon, as proved by the case just cited. * * * 
Moreover, the rainbow trout is more delicate in its appetite than other 
varieties of Salmonidce , and therefore is not prone to the same tempta- 
tions to cannibalistic attacks upon its congeners.” 
